Years ago a preacher started a church in a drive in movie theater. People literally drove in, watched the service from their cars, and drove off. One man spoke of how great it was for his wife, who was unable to walk. “This way she doesn’t have to get out of the car, she doesn’t have anyone looking at her. If she doesn’t feel like putting on makeup, it doesn’t matter, because no one sees us.”
I can’t help but feel that while I’m glad they feel attending church is important, they are missing something important.
They are missing the opportunity to allow another member of the body of Christ to serve them, by helping his wife to get from her car to a pew.
They are missing the chance to encourage someone else dealing with a disability, to teach that person that life can be full and rich.
And church isn’t just about showing up. It’s about the body of Christ coming together, to worship together, to be in fellowship, and where one is weak, another is strong.
Our scripture this week talks about the various parts of the body in service to each other. Not everyone is an eye. Not everyone is an ear, and for good reason. We need each other to accomplish all that God has for us to do.
And what is that?
God created us to do good works. To help us do them, He has given us different gifts.
These gifts are meant not to be hoarded, but used in service of others. The Bible gives many reasons: to build others up, to teach the truth, to bring other to maturity, to draw closer to God.
Somehow the idea of being in service makes people nervous. It sounds a bit like some horrible tedious work. Some people even have the idea the more suffering involved, the more God is pleased.
I don’t think so.
The apostle Paul was clearly using his gifts in his teaching, preaching, and evangelism. While he suffered greatly during the course of his ministry, he “counted it all joy.”
So why would it be different for us? If we are using the gifts God gives us, then we will be able to rejoice in our service.
One thing is clear: God expects us to be serving, faithfully using the gifts He gave us for the common good. The first step is just to get involved with some ministry that sounds interesting or you think you’d enjoy, and see where that goes.
When I went to Russia as a missionary, I thought I’d build relationships with doctors through the medical supplies and equipment I brought, or through the knowledge I was bringing.
I didn’t turn out that way.
God used a different gift to bridge the gap. My ability to make chocolate chip cookies (which became known as “Evelyn cookies” and to prepare Mexican food, including tortillas from scratch, provided a way to spend time with many doctors and to have many conversations of a spiritual nature.
I didn’t value my gifts in the area of hospitality, but that’s just what God used.
He values the gifts He has given us. It’s up to us to use them for His service.
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